Outsourced vs. In-House IT: Which Is Better for Your Practice?

Medical practices are drowning in the complexity of the healthcare industry. They have to hire skilled IT personnel to maintain their network, servers, software, and more. While this is all crucial work, it's not what medical professionals should be spending their time on. 

Several factors go into this decision, such as how much money you plan to spend on IT, what kind of support needs you have, and what type of staff you want to keep on board. You should also consider how much time and effort are required to manage your own IT.

Running an IT department is a complex task that requires specialized knowledge and skills. You can either outsource IT or hire someone in-house. Before making a decision, consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Benefits of In-house IT

Easier to Reach

Time is everything in times of disaster. Assuming technical issues arise within business hours, an internal IT team can respond immediately. With just a few steps toward their workstation, you can get an IT person to start tackling the issue right away. 

Faster response time means less downtime, thus reducing damage before it worsens.

You Get More Hands-on Assistance

If you have an in-house IT staff, they are always on hand to help you with any problems that may arise. They can diagnose any issues and fix them for you, or at the very least offer advice on how to fix it yourself. 

In-house IT is an excellent option if you expect complex IT infrastructure that requires constant monitoring to avoid many things going wrong. They can also help with more complex tasks, such as setting up a new device. This way, the clinicians won't have to take time away from their work schedule.

Getting Hired by Your Organization Means They’re Culture-fit

Hiring in-house IT personnel can help improve your company's productivity. Having IT employees onsite means they also contribute to business decisions. Plus, it ensures that you hire people who are in tune with your values and culture.

A person's role can be tailored to their strengths, and they will be invested in the company's success. This is especially helpful for smaller businesses that might have trouble keeping up with the hiring process.

Clinicians Can Build a Better Rapport and Won’t Hesitate to Ask for Help

Not all clinicians are IT savvy. Often, they don’t stay up to date on the latest developments in the field. Some may even hesitate to ask for help with IT problems because they think it will make them feel incompetent. This can lead to delays in patient care or other complications.

Those working at your clinic will be more likely to seek assistance from someone they know and trust. This is easy to achieve if your IT staff is within their physical proximity. 

They will also be able to work together to find solutions when problems arise. As a result, the quality of care will improve.

Disadvantages of In-house IT

More Expensive

This can be seen through the higher cost of hiring a full-time employee than the hourly rate for outsourcing. You also have to pay for the employees’ benefits, such as healthcare and retirement plans. In addition, you have to provide them with office space and equipment, which can be costly.

According to PayScale.com, the average rate of a computer support technician in the United States is $19.17 per hour. Meanwhile, there are MSPs that offer value-for-money services. For example, ER Tech Pros starts at $35 per month per desktop.

Only Available During Regular Business Hours

In-house IT teams are usually limited to a certain number of hours per day, which can be problematic for companies that need 24/7 support. To provide any kind of after-hours support, extra pay is required.

If you have a problem outside of those hours, you’ll need to find someone else to help you. That can be a challenge, especially if you need help urgently. You have to worry about having a plan in place for when you need support outside of regular business hours.

During weekends and holidays, your in-house IT department is likely to be unavailable.

Tends to Have a Smaller Talent Pool

Approximately 74% of cybersecurity professionals believe that their organization lacks skills, according to a study by Trustwave.

There are only so many IT experts in your area, and many of them are already employed by other companies, which further limits your options. You could be left with workers who don't have the critical skills to deal with all of your IT needs, not to mention that most of them don’t specialize in healthcare IT.

IT is a multifaceted area, and you can’t afford to have a jack of all trades handling your networks, software, hardware, cybersecurity, compliance requirements, and many more.

Ill-equipped to Deal With Emergencies Like the COVID Pandemic

In-house IT teams are usually not as prepared as MSPs when it comes to dealing with emergencies, such as unexpected outages or system failures. 

When the COVID-19 outbreak forced many businesses to adapt to remote or hybrid modes of work, MSPs proved to be dependable in maintaining security while many employees are working from home.

Benefits of Outsourcing IT

Less Expensive 

Outsourcing your IT services can help you save money on salaries, benefits, paid leave, overtime pay, and other expenses associated with hiring an in-house staff. 

You can also take advantage of the latest technology and solutions without having to invest in hardware and software. Additionally, you’re not burdened by the things that come with running an in-house staff such as managing employees, providing office space, or purchasing equipment.

The flexibility of outsourcing allows you to scale up or down depending on your current needs. This is handy if you are unsure of your workload in the months ahead.

Full-time IT Support (Others Even Offer 24/7 Unlimited Support!)

With a third-party IT provider, you’ll have full-time professionals taking care of your technology round the clock. The need for flexibility has never been greater in today's world due to the multitude of tasks that must be completed daily. 

You must also remain protected against the constant barrage of cyber threats prevalent in the healthcare industry.

While your in-house personnel are asleep, MSPs are hard at work 24/7, keeping your infrastructure secure and operational. With MSPs, you don't need to worry about finding someone to take care of your system during off hours, weekends, and even holidays. 

Highly Trained and Well-experienced Specialists

IT professionals offering outsourcing services are highly trained and experienced. When you outsource your IT services, you are gaining access to that expertise. You’ll also get updates on technology trends so you can capitalize on them.

MSPs can help you with a wide range of services, including infrastructure management, cybersecurity, cloud services, and more. They can also help you keep your IT infrastructure up to date and remain compliant with industry regulations.

MSPs can also help you with strategic planning and execution, so you can get the most out of your IT investments. 

Capable of Handling IT Emergencies 24/7

The COVID pandemic has shown us the importance of having a strong emergency plan in place. Many businesses have been forced to shut down due to the outbreak. One of the reasons for this is that they didn’t have a solid plan in place for when something like this happened. 

Losing patients because of downtime can put you out of business. When you work with an MSP, you have access to a team of experts who are always available to help you out in a crisis. 

MSPs have the resources and the expertise to help you get your IT systems back up and running as quickly as possible. They can also help you to prevent future IT emergencies from happening.

Helps You Focus on Your Core Practice

Keeping up with modern technology can be challenging for anyone. Not only is it time-consuming, but it’s also difficult to implement and maintain.

As your business grows, you need more than just the basics. By leveraging a reputable MSP’s expertise, you stay focused on what really matters.

A reliable MSP will take care of all your IT needs, from security and backups to updates and support. These professionals will even search for cyber threats before they cause problems to your business.

These will allow you to focus on your patients and your practice, and you’ll be able to provide the best possible patient care.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing IT

Limited Face-to-Face Interaction

The biggest disadvantage of outsourcing your business's IT team is that you lose the face-to-face interaction between your team and the outsourced company.

When it comes to preventing COVID-19 spread, this may be an advantage. However, the lack of in-person contact can be a challenge in building a relationship with the outsourced company and in ensuring that you are getting the best service possible.

Fortunately, there are MSPs who can provide onsite visits when necessary.

You Don’t Have 100% Control

You don’t have 100% control over how tasks are monitored and performed when you outsource some tasks to external vendors. They each have their own ways of doing things, which has proven to be effective for them. As long as you know and trust who you work with, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Trust is crucial in this context. Even though this can be a risk, it’s one worth taking for many practice owners who need to focus on providing quality care.

Effect on Morale

Depending on the extent, outsourcing may affect employees. The thought of losing one's job is frightening. An organization's morale can be affected by how much third-party help it has on board.

A disgruntled workforce may work less or become frustrated with their work environment, affecting quality and often resulting in turnover.

Fortunately, this won’t affect your clinical staff. And if you already have in-house IT personnel and want to supplement them with outside experts, all you need to do is communicate why you’re doing this – MSPs relieve them of some of the burden as they concentrate on the day-to-day onsite duties. They’ll probably appreciate the help, too!

Upgrade Your IT with ER Tech Pros

An IT department plays a crucial role in the success of any medical practice. One of the most important decisions you can make as a medical practice owner is whether to outsource your IT or hire an in-house IT team. 

Perhaps you have a small IT team struggling at the moment, or maybe you're currently partnering with an MSP and are considering switching to a healthcare-centric IT provider.

It can be daunting to work with a third-party provider. Most MSPs are familiar with the IT side of things, but lack the expertise and experience in healthcare. This is why ER Tech Pros was built to focus on healthcare's complex IT demands.

Our team has spent more than 10 years working for and with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and office managers. Over the years, we've amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience that we're eager to share with your medical clinic. 

For a limited time, we’re offering a FREE assessment that will identify any potential problems and outline a plan of action, including a cost estimate. Together, we'll develop a robust IT solution that meets your needs and stays within your budget.